United Art Halloween Postcard Lady Holding Jack-o'-lantern

The illustration of a woman with a jack-o'-lantern for A Glad Hallowe'en reflects the early 20th-century popularization and domestication of the holiday. Halloween, derived from ancient Celtic harvest festivals and Christian observances, was increasingly embraced in North America during this period, evolving from its more superstitious roots into a festive occasion with specific customs. The jack-o'-lantern, originating from Irish folklore where turnips or potatoes were carved, became predominantly associated with pumpkins in America by the mid-19th century, a tradition solidified through widespread imagery by the 1900s.